At Bristol Business School, our portfolio of open programmes offers you and your business a flexible learning solution. We have a range of programmes covering a wide range of topics, including Finance, Strategy, Marketing, Leadership, Coaching and Mentoring, Innovation, and Design Thinking, among many others. Our programmes are delivered by experienced practitioners and academics, who combine cutting-edge thinking with a practical, real-world focus, ensuring our programmes meet professional and industry needs.

Programme introduction

Kickstart an exciting and dynamic career with the Professional Certification in Digital Marketing. Whether you are a business owner who wants to improve online engagement, a professional marketer, or a complete beginner, this certification will provide you with an introduction to key digital specialisms, from mobile and social media marketing, to email, PPC and SEO.

Validated by the Digital Marketing Institute, the certification is delivered here in Bristol by experienced academics and consultants who apply our expertise and cutting-edge thinking with a practical focus. Your learning will be shaped by our practical experience, industry advice and best practice tips.

The Faculty of Business and Law, UWE Bristol, is a registered training provider with the Digital Marketing Institute, the global certification standard for digital marketing, which certifies digital professionals in over 70 countries. Upon completion students gain an internationally and industry-recognised digital marketing qualification.

The Professional Certification in Digital Marketing is an in-depth programme created and validated by digital marketing industry specialists. The course syllabus is the most widely taught in digital marketing and covers Search, Social Media, PPC, Email Marketing, Analytics, Mobile, Strategy and Planning and more.

Who's it for?

The Professional Certification in Digital Marketing is ideal for candidates seeking to gain a fundamental understanding of the digital skills needed to formulate, run and measure effective digital marketing campaigns.

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements but we usually recommend that you have some understanding of marketing. You may have completed a previous qualification in marketing, or you may have some previous experience of working in marketing.

Careers / Further study

Accreditations and partnerships:

Content

INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL MARKETING

The Introduction to Digital Marketing module helps you get to grips with the fundamentals of digital marketing. You will learn about the key concepts of digital marketing and how it differs from traditional marketing, as well as how these two practices can complement each other.

SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION

The module will introduce you to a range of specialist tools, on-site and off-site optimization techniques, as well as keyword research practices and link-building tactics that will drive traffic to your website and generate customer conversions.

You will become familiar with key concepts and terminology, and equip yourself with the technical skills and insight required to build and maintain an effective SEO strategy. You will also be able to monitor and manage your SEO strategy by measuring the metrics that matter and refining your performance as a direct result.

PAY PER CLICK

In this module, you will develop an understanding of the fundamentals of search marketing within a PPC context, and what is involved in creating and running an optimized AdWords campaign.

You will learn how to implement and manage an enhanced Pay Per Click campaign to increase your brand awareness and extend reach. You will also be able to carry out keyword research, target audiences, and craft compelling adverts.

EMAIL MARKETING

Upon completion of this module, you will be able to design, create and implement email marketing campaigns that will increase customer reach and sales for your business.

Learn how to create subject lines that get opened and master how to create copy that appeals to your target audience. You will learn how to split-test design templates and test campaigns to reach optimal click-through rates.

DIGITAL DISPLAY ADVERTISING

This module will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to implement and manage an effective display ad campaign. Master the key concepts of digital display advertising and learn how to plan, create and optimise clickable ad campaigns that your customers receive, love and respond to.

MOBILE MARKETING

The Mobile Marketing module focuses on utilising the power of mobile technologies to access increasingly mobile consumers. The module will teach you how to optimise your website for mobile devices to secure maximum conversions.

You will be equipped with the technical knowledge and skills needed to build and maintain an effective mobile marketing strategy.

WEB ANALYTICS

The Analytics module helps you track, monitor and optimise your digital marketing campaigns effectively to ensure that your digital marketing activities are fully optimised. Discover how to create an effective online reporting structure for any business.

You will learn how to create and schedule customised reports and explore the real-time and intelligent reporting capabilities of Google Analytics.

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

This module consists of two parts. Part one shows you how to grow a social media following. You'll learn how to excite and engage customers on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google+. Part two teaches you how to implement social advertising features and social listening techniques to help you foster relationships with customers. You'll also discover how to create a winning social media strategy.

STRATEGY AND PLANNING

The Strategy and Planning module adopts a structured approach that brings together all strands of the Professional Certification in Digital Marketing and culminates in a comprehensive, coherent digital marketing plan.

What do I get out of it?

The programme syllabus is validated by the Digital Marketing Institute's Syllabus Advisory Council, made up of representatives from leading digital giants, including Google, Twitter, Facebook, Microsoft and eBay.

Upon successful completion of a 3-hour Pearson VUE computer-based examination you will be awarded the world's most widely recognised digital marketing certification.

Learning and Teaching

The course is delivered though two separate delivery methods; five fortnightly day sessions or twelve weekly evening sessions.

Class sessions are interactive, allowing for the exchange of a wide variety of experiences. Our Technology-Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) rooms will also provide you with a professional environment for practical learning.

Study time

36 hours taught time through the delivery sessions.

Alongside these sessions, participants will be expected to complete pre-reading around the following session's subject to allow for more time for practical engagement with the digital media in question during the group sessions.

Assessment

Three-hour multiple choice exam.

Following the programme you will be required to book your exam through Pearson VUE to sit the three-hour multiple choice exam. You will have 6 months from the date of your first taught session to sit the exam. You can sit the exam up to 3 times during this period, however please note only your first attempt is included in your programme fee, further attempts will incur a charge.

Upon completion of your programme, you will receive an industry-recognised, globally respected qualification. Exams are developed in alignment with the programme syllabus, which means that every student is certified to the same standard.

Professional accreditation

The Digital Marketing Institute brings together the world's leading digital brands to review and approve course content, and define an innovative syllabus that will develop your digital career.

Study facilities

The Certification is run in our Technology-Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) rooms, at our dedicated Bristol Business Engagement Centre, providing a professional environment for your development needs. Located at Frenchay Campus, with easy access to the M4 and M5 motorways and Bristol Parkway rail station, it has four fully equipped training rooms, a communications and reception area.

To be able to fully participate in our programme, you will need to be comfortable with using the Internet and searching for information online. Session materials are presented through a number of sources including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, pdf and online workbooks and discussions.

As a learner at the University of the West of England, you will also have full access to our library on campus and all online materials and resources.